The commitment to rugby at this level will greatly enhance this platform for players who are vying for a place on the Irish National team. Many of rugby's well known players who have come through Irish Colleges played for Ireland and their provinces last year including Paul O'Connell, Bernard Jackman, Marcus Horan, Denis Leamy, Trevor Hogan, Jamie Heaslip, Eoin Reddan and Girvan Dempsey.